Oceanography and Climate Change

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on oceanography and climate change.

Oceanography

The study of the physical, chemical, and biological features of the ocean.

Climate Emergency

A state indicating the need to shift into emergency gear due to significant climate change impacts caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO₂ in the deep ocean.

Euphotic Depth

The upper layer of a water body where sufficient light penetrates for photosynthesis.

Mixed Layer

The layer of water in the ocean where temperature is fairly constant due to wind mixing.

Thermocline

A layer of water in the ocean where there is a rapid decline in temperature with depth.

Pycnocline

A layer of water in the ocean characterized by a rapid increase in density with increasing depth.

Salinity

The concentration of salts in seawater, commonly expressed in grams of salt per kilogram of seawater.

Photoperiod

The amount of light in a 24-hour period, which affects seasonal patterns of productivity in marine ecosystems.

Biological Carbon Pump

The process by which marine organisms, such as phytoplankton, uptake CO₂ and transport it to the deep ocean.